The city is hoping a $1 million state grant application will be a major step toward bringing sorely needed renovations to Gagliardo Park.
The City Council unanimously passed a resolution last month in support of the grant application that would address a park that has “lost many functional pieces,” and has equipment that “show signs of wear and tear.” The park’s last significant upgrades took place more than 25 years ago, according to city officials.
Gagliardo Park is a 2.5-acre park located on 31 High St. that includes a basketball court, a baseball field, a playground, and a picnic shelter. But the constant activity continues to diminish it, since Gagliardo is “well used” by residents of the neighborhood as well as Rye’s Youth Baseball and Softball Leagues.
According to Rye Little League president Danny McCarthy, the little league uses the baseball field seven days a week during the spring season. And, he added, the park recently got a new sodded infield — so “we’re making the best with what we have.”
A member of the Facebook group Rye Moms called the city to task over the wayward state of the park, posting scathing complaints to the page.
“Does anyone question why gagliardo park is so neglected?? Where is the outrage?? No one cares? Pavilion in shambles and don’t get me started on the bathrooms. Playground totally neglected and outdated. Pathways full of trash. But little league field good to go!” she wrote on March 23.
The Facebook post received 66 comments.
“I agree, it’s very neglected…but it’s also SO LOUD due to the traffic from 195,” replied one user. Despite living very close to the park, she rarely went because “it feels like you’re playing on the highway,” she wrote.
“The current conditions at Gagliardo Park — particularly the emerging sinkhole near the bleachers —make this an urgent safety concern,” another user commented. She called the park’s situation an “emergency.”
The concerns raised on Facebook reached not only the City Council but also the city Recreation Commission, according to Rick McCabe, who chairs the commission.
McCabe, who is running for mayor as an independent, joined the City Council and members of city staff on a walkthrough of the park on March 29.
“It was a great conversation with a lot of the residents in that neighborhood,” he said. “We’ve had some great opportunities to do some work on different parks around town. And the commission certainly is supportive of doing the same at Gagliardo.”
The grant, awarded through New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant Program, can run as high as $1 million — although the city needs more than $1.6 million to overhaul the park, according to the City Council resolution.
“Final design has not been determined, but certain amenities need to be improved no matter what the final plan looks like,” said Interim City Manager Brian Shea at the council’s April 23 meeting.
The details of the plan are expected to be discussed at a later date.
Generally, the grant money would go toward new bathrooms, stormwater infrastructure, improved field space, a new ADA accessible playground, new fencing, walking paths, and several other amenities.
Councilman Bill Henderson, a Republican who is also running for mayor, also pointed out the condition of the basketball court in the list of improvements needed. “There’s a lot of stuff,” Henderson said.
The city previously applied for a state grant through the Environmental Protection Fund program in 2023, that would have updated Gagliardo Park’s equipment and installed the city’s first ADA accessible structures.
But the grant application was rejected, according to Shea.
“Funding ambitious capital projects is often a challenge for local governments — especially in small communities,” Shea told The Record.
The need for upgrades at the park were included in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan dating back to 2018, when the work was considered a high priority.
The council’s unanimous vote on last month’s resolution, Shea added, shows a “demonstration that we are committed to invest in this park.”
“The general consensus I have heard from residents and Council members is that it is time to make a significant investment into the park. We are working hard toward that goal,” he said.
